The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) says Saudi Arabia has declined Nigeria’s request for an increase in its 2027 Hajj allocation, leaving the country’s quota unchanged at 50,000 pilgrims.
NAHCON said it had formally engaged the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to seek additional pilgrimage slots in response to growing demand among intending Nigerian pilgrims and requests from several state pilgrims’ welfare boards.
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The Commission said the Saudi authorities, however, declined the request, citing capacity limitations, structural constraints at the holy sites and the Kingdom’s policy of adhering strictly to approved country quotas under the current operational framework.
Under the existing allocation, Nigeria will receive 35,000 slots for government-sponsored pilgrims and 15,000 slots for licensed tour operators, bringing the total allocation to 50,000 pilgrims for the 2027 Hajj.
In a statement, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NAHCON, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, acknowledged the disappointment the decision could cause intending pilgrims, state pilgrims’ welfare boards and other stakeholders who had expected an increase.
Yusuf said the Commission explored available diplomatic and operational channels to secure additional slots but respected the final decision of the Saudi authorities.
He said the Commission understood the desire of Nigerian Muslims to perform Hajj and the expectations of states and other stakeholders seeking additional allocations.
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The NAHCON Chairman urged state pilgrims’ welfare boards, agencies and licensed tour operators to ensure that their approved allocations were utilised judiciously and transparently.
He also directed all stakeholders to comply with timelines set by the Commission and the Saudi Nusuk platform for the 2027 pilgrimage.
Yusuf said the deadline for uploading the details of all prospective pilgrims for the 2027 Hajj remained September 26, 2026, stressing that no extension would be granted.
He urged state pilgrim boards, tour operators and other representatives to ensure that all required information was submitted before the deadline.
The NAHCON Chairman further disclosed that intending pilgrims who were unable to secure slots for the 2027 Hajj could register for the 2028 pilgrimage, noting that registration for the subsequent exercise had already commenced.
He assured stakeholders of the Commission’s commitment to transparency, equity and the welfare of Nigerian pilgrims, adding that preparations for the 2027 Hajj were progressing.
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Yusuf also said further updates on operational guidelines and the implementation of the new business-to-business framework for the 2027 Hajj would be communicated through NAHCON’s official channels.
The Commission appealed to all stakeholders to cooperate with the approved quota system, noting that adherence to Saudi Arabia’s allocation framework was a requirement for participating countries and was aimed at supporting the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.